Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Standouts
Writing: Marisol McDonald Doesn't Match/Marisol McDonald No Combina by Monica Brown
As a kid who "didn't match" myself, I really appreciated this story of a little girl nimbly balancing between two cultures.
Illustration: Red Sled by Lita Judge
What does a bear do on a snowy night? Abscond with a sled left unwisely out. Duh. The glee on the faces of the animals made me smile all the way through.
Overall: Chloe and the Lion by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Adam Rex
Who's most important, the author or the illustrator? Work out the answer for yourself.

Because I Want To Awards
Definitely Has Points Over "Because It'll Make Your Hair Curly": Tales for Picky Eaters by Josh Schneider
A father explains to his son all the myriad and hilarious reasons to eat the food he rejects.
Awwwww, the End: Laika: Astronaut Dog by Owen Davey
Because who didn't sob heartbrokenly when you found out what really happened to Laika? It's undeniably a fix-it ending, but that's okay.
Awwwww, the End, Part Deux: Duck, Death, and the Tulip by Wolf Erlbruch
It's not like Erlbruch doesn't telegraph the end from the beginning, but it turned out surprisingly sweet and satisfying.